KNOKKE-HEIST.- This years 35th edition of the prestigious art and antiques fair Art Nocturne Knocke was a resounding success. No fewer than 11,950 art and antiques lovers flocked to the fair at the Belgian coastal resort of Knokke last week. Antiques dealers and most art galleries did good business and the public were exceedingly enthusiastic about the offered art works and their presentation.

The fair included the beautiful La Chaumière Sous Les Arbres (The cottage under the trees) by Van Gogh from 1885. The painting was first exhibited by Kunsthandel Frans Jacobs of Amsterdam this spring at the influential TEFAF Maastricht art and antiques fair in the Netherlands. At Art Nocturne Knocke the same gallery sold the painting to a Belgian couple for close to the asking price of 2,750,000.

With over ten thousand acquisitive art lovers over recent years, Art Nocturne Knocke has grown into the most important international summer art and antique fair in Europe. The fair also takes place in an economically successful region with a wealthy audience, which is hugely appreciated by the dealers. Also the never-ending attention given to the latest developments on the international art and antique market by the dealers, as well as by the organisational team Art Promotion Tuteleers & Tuteleers adds to the success of Art Nocturne Knocke. Add the numerous returning colleagues who, together with the newly selected, every year assure a collection of original objects that never cease to please the art and antique lovers.

The museum-like quality of the fair is first of all the result of the professional efforts of the art and antique dealers. Thanks to the longstanding experience and effort, they select the most precious objects from their collections for Art Nocturne Knocke. Not surprisingly, the offering includes many objects of museum-like quality. In order to stress that undeniable quality and as requested by the art and antique fair, upon request, every participant gives the buyer a certificate that proves that the objects are genuine. This is done according to the common standards and including possible changes that were made by a team of independent and certified experts. Every year, the fair is also visited by numerous museum curators.

All in all this year's edition provided an incentive for the organisers to go forward towards the next 35 in association with the Knokke-Heist municipal executive!